Antiques: Professional Secrets for the Amateur - Softcover

This classic work on repairing, restoring and caring for antiques of every kind has already proved a godsend to thousands of owners lacking the skill and knowledge of the professional. How do you recognise the genuine article? Can you repair a piece of broken porcelain? How do you regild an old mirror or picture frame? With generations of craftsmen behind him, Michel Doussy passes on the know-how and tricks of the trade that have been a closely guarded secret for many years. With the help of this lavishly illustrated book, amateur collectors will learn what to look for and how to protect their possessions from the maladies and pests that attack old wood, bronze, pewter and other materials. They will be able to repair broken pieces and to restore worn and damaged articles to their former loveliness, without destroying the patina of age or lowering the value. The author writes from a deep love and respect for antiques; he knows and understands the requirements of different materials, and he passes his knowledge with an enthusiasm that will infect the reader. Nor does he fool his readers into believing that a job is easy when it demands time and patience. Although there will always be some jobs that require the attentions of the trained professional, they are fewer than the amateur might suppose. Following the expert guidance in this book, the successful restoration of one treasured possession may well start the reader on a new and utterly absorbing hobby.